I took part in a course yesterday, led by Lesley Salt, a practitioner of the Emmett Technique and can honestly say that what she showed us was truly amazing!
The Emmett Technique is a special form of body therapy that involves application of light finger pressure at specific points. These are in sequences that enable gentle releases for common problems which include neck, shoulder and back pain. It was developed by Ross Emmett who is a very gifted individual working largely from his natural intuition. (In this way he is very much like Joseph Pilates.) He developed his method in the Australian outback, largely as a “self-help” system for people who were miles from the nearest hospital and it became so popular that he had to move back to civilisation.
The Emmett Technique is based on the scientific idea of Critical Point Analysis. This has identified that in any highly complex system there is a specific, critical point at which the smallest input will result in the greatest change, where the least force exerts the greatest effect. An example of this might be a light touch on a small cog that can halt the largest engine.
It is with this understanding that the Emmett Technique influences the most complex system known – the human body. Working within this principle the Emmett Technique is able to affect two types of receptors, sensory and muscular. These overlap together at specific junctions where they can and do influence each other. The therapist is compared to a body electrician who has the power to locate these overlaps or re-set buttons. The muscle that has tripped out due to overuse or overload may only need a light pressure to re-set.
The fascinating point about these Emmett points for me was that they are not only an overlap of sensory, motor point but may also have a memory or emotional attachment. They are what Ross describes as a three-dimensional switch, creating awareness in the brain of 3 factors, sensory/touch, muscular/motor and emotional/flight.
So not only can we access our muscle memory, but by pressing on the Emmett points we can have a positive effect on poor muscle function by encouraging change and setting that change in place. And it is so quick and simple!
I can honestly say that each person on the course experienced a “wow” moment. Just to give you a flavour;
Louisa reported, ” The Upper back Release (Latissimus Dorsi) was amazing, I previously felt so much restriction and tension across my back and shoulders from feeding and carrying my 8 month old, the move felt really powerful and worked deep into the muscles. My body was swaying as it tried to rebalance itself! Afterwards I felt much more freedom of movement and even able to breathe much easier without the previous restriction from all the back tension.”
“Diaphragm Release was also incredible. Being asthmatic I often find it hard to feel as if I’m really getting a full wide breath. With this move I felt able to breathe so much more easily and comfortably than I can remember. Absolutely amazing! Felt as if I could just float home!!”
Probably the most exciting reaction was Debbie’s to the Latissimus Dorsi release. The whole class was astounded to see her lift her arms easily and without pain above her head after previous restriction. She said, “The difference in movement after 3 years of a problematic shoulder was immediately noticeable and I found it very emotional that this simple small move has made a significant change.”
My own moment of epiphany came when we did the Gastroc Calf Release. Some years ago I had an operation to repair my achilles tendon and I was largely happy with the result, although I have always felt like I have a “brake” in my lower right leg which stops me from bending my knee any further when squatting. Yesterday I realised that “given the confidence” in reality I have much greater range of movement than I thought. It is my “brain” that has been applying the brakes! Another Joseph Pilates quote springs to mind: “It is the mind itself which builds the body!”
The Emmett Technique – what a fantastic complement to Pilates!
Sue Pickering
The Pilates Workshop, Pilates classes in St Albans, Luton, Eaton Bray, Dunstable, Berkhamsted, Harpenden, Flamstead and Hertford
